Partnership Aims to Track Raw Materials

AkzoNobel and Solvay are working together to increase and track the use of renewable raw materials in coatings.

The two companies have partnered with London-based EY (Ernst & Young) to develop a monitoring system that tracks the use of renewable raw materials in paints, coatings and other applications, the companies announced Wednesday (May 7).

Under the new agreement, Solvay, AkzoNobel and EY will develop a "chain of custody methodology" to ensure that volumes are assigned and reported, even when no physical segregation of petro and bio-based materials is practiced.

"This is a vital next step to measure and share with partners our progress in using Solvay's bio-based epichlorohydrin," said Peter Nieuwenhuizen, AkzoNobel's Director of Innovation and Partnerships.

Instead of buying Epicerol directly from Solvay, AkzoNobel gets epoxy resins from several intermediate producers and uses them in various coatings.

Solvay

Epicerol is Solvay's patented process for producing epichlorohydrin with glycerine as a raw material, rather than propylene, an oil derivative. It has a substantially lower carbon footprint than most fossil-produced epichlorohydrin.

"We welcome the expertise of EY to monitor progress in the implementation of this innovative partnership along the value chain," said Jean-Luc Préat, head of the Epicerol business in Solvay's Emerging Biochemicals Global Business Unit.

Lower Carbon Footprint

Epicerol has a substantially lower carbon footprint compared with most fossil-produced epichlorohydrin.

Epicerol is Solvay's patented process for producing epichlorohydrin with glycerine as a raw material, rather than propylene, an oil derivative. Epichlorohydrin, a chemical intermediate, is a key raw material used in the manufacturing of epoxy resins for paints, coatings, composites, adhesives and other applications.

By 2016, AkzoNobel aims to source 20 percent of its total epichlorohydrin demand as bio-based material.

"This methodology will not just be useful for Epicerol, but can be applied more broadly in chemical value chains," said Franc van den Berg, EY partner for Cleantech and Sustainability.

"This is an important enabler for establishing a stronger position for bio-based chemicals in the chemical business," said van den Berg.